一千零一夜-天方夜谭-1001 Nights(英文版)-第1部分

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THE　BOOK　OF　THE　THOUSAND　NIGHTS　AND　ONE　NIGHT：

Now　First　pletely　Done　Into　English

Prose　and　Verse；　From　The　Original　Arabic；

By　John　Payne

（Author　of　〃The　Masque　of　Shadows；〃　〃Intaglios：　Sons；〃　〃Songs　of　Life　and　Death；〃

〃Lautrec；〃　〃The　Poems　of　Master　Francis　Villon　of　Paris；〃　〃New　Poems；〃　Etc；　Etc。）。

In　Nine　Volumes：




VOLUME　THE　EIGHTH。

London

Printed　For　Subscribers　Only

1901

Delhi　Edition




Mesrour　and　Zein　el　Mewasif

Ali　Noureddin　and　the　Frank　King’s　Daughter

The　Man　of　Upper　Egypt　and　His　Frank　Wife

The　Ruined　Man　of　Baghdad　and　His　Slave　Girl

King　Jelyaad　of　Hind　and　His　Vizier　Shimas：　Whereafter　Ensueth　the　History　of　King　Wird　Khan；　Son　of　King　Jelyaad；　With　His　Women　and　Viziers

The　Cat　and　the　Mouse

The　Fakir　and　His　Pot　of　Butter

The　Fishes　and　the　Crab

The　Crow　and　the　Serpent

The　Fox　and　the　Wild　Ass

The　Unjust　King　and　the　Pilgrim　Prince

The　Crows　and　the　Hawk

The　SerpentCharmer　and　His　Wife

The　Spider　and　the　Wind

The　Two　Kings

The　Blind　Man　and　the　Cripple

The　Foolish　Fisherman

The　Boy　and　the　Thieves

The　Man　and　His　Wilful　Wife

The　Merchant　and　the　Thieves

The　Foxes　and　the　Wolf

The　Shepherd　and　the　Thief

The　Heathcock　and　the　Tortoises

Aboukir　the　Dyer　and　Abousir　the　Barber

Abdallah　the　Fisherman　and　Abdallah　the　Merman




MESROUR　AND　ZEIN　EL　MEWASIF。

There　was　once；　of　old　days　and　in　bygone　ages　and　times；　a　merchant　named　Mesrour；　who　was　of　the　goodliest　of　the　folk　of　his　day；　and　he　had　wealth　galore　and　was　in　easy　case；　but　loved　to　take　his　pleasure　in　gardens　and　orchards　and　to　divert　himself　with　the　love　of　fair　women。　One　night；　as　he　lay　asleep；　he　dreamt　that　he　was　in　a　most　lovely　garden；　wherein　were　four　birds；　and　amongst　them　a　dove；　white　as　polished　silver。　The　dove　pleased　him　and　an　exceeding　love　for　her　grew　up　in　his　heart。　Presently　a　great　bird　swooped　down　on　him　and　snatched　the　dove　from　his　hand；　and　this　was　grievous　to　him。　Then　he　awoke　and　strove　with　his　yearnings　till　the　morning；　when　he　said　in　himself；　'Needs　must　I　go　today　to　some　one　who　will　expound　to　me　this　dream。'　So　he　went　forth　and　fared　right　and　left；　till　he　was　far　from　his　dwellingplace；　but　found　none　to　interpret　the　dream　to　him。　Then　he　set　out　to　return；　but　on　his　way　the　fancy　took　him　to　turn　aside　to　the　house　of　a　certain　rich　merchant；　and　when　he　drew　near　to　it；　he　heard　from　within　a　plaintive　voice；　reciting　the　following　verses　from　a　sorrowful　heart：

　　The　East　wind　from　her　traces　blows　tousward；　fragrancefraught；　With　perfume　such　as　heals　the　sick　and　soothes　the　lovedistraught。
　　By　the　deserted　steads　I　stand　and　question；　but　my　tears　Nought　answers　save　the　witness　mute；　the　ruin　time　hath　wrought。
　　Breath　of　the　breeze；　I　prithee　tell；　quoth　I；　shall　its　delight　To　this　abidingplace　return；　by　fairer　fortune　brought？
　　And　shall　I　yet　a　fawn　enjoy；　whose　shape　hath　ravished　me；　Yea；　and　whose　languordrooping　lids　have　wasted　me　to　nought？　
When　he　heard　this；　he　looked　in　at　the　door　and　saw　a　garden　of　the　goodliest　of　gardens；　and　at　its　farther　end　a　curtain　of　red　brocade；　embroidered　with　pearls　and　jewels；　behind　which　sat　four　damsels；　and　amongst　them　a　young　lady　over　four　and　under　five　feet　in　height；　as　she　were　the　round　of　the　moon　and　the　shining　full　moon。　She　had　great　liquid　black　eyes　and　joined　eyebrows；　a　mouth　as　it　were　Solomon's　seal　and　lips　and　teeth　like　pearls　and　coral；　and　indeed　she　ravished　all　wits　with　her　beauty　and　grace　and　symmetry。　When　Mesrour　saw　her；　he　entered　the　garden　and　went　on；　till　he　came　to　the　curtain：　whereupon　she　raised　her　head　and　saw　him。　So　he　saluted　her　and　she　returned　his　greeting　with　dulcet　speech；　and　when　he　beheld　her　more　closely；　his　reason　was　confounded　and　his　heart　transported。　Then　he　looked　at　the　garden　and　saw　that　it　was　full　of　jessamine　and　gillyflowers　and　violets　and　roses　and　orange　blossoms　and　all　manner　sweetscented　flowers。　All　the　trees　were　laden　with　fruits　and　there　ran　down　water　from　four　estrades；　which　occupied　the　four　angles　of　the　garden。　He　looked　at　the　first　estrade　and　found　the　following　verses　written　around　it　with　vermilion：

　　May　grief　ne'er　enter　thee　nor　yet　dismay；　O　house；　nor　fortune　e'er　thy　lord　bewray！
　　Fair　fall　the　house　that　harbours　every　guest；　When　straitened　upon　him　is　place　and　way！　
Then　he　looked　at　the　second　estrade　and　found　the　following　written　thereon　in　red　gold：

　　The　garment　of　fair　fortune　shine　on　thee；　dwelling；　still；　Whilst　on　the　gardenbranches　the　songbirds　pipe　and　trill！
　　May　fragrant　odours　harbour　in　every　part　of　thee　And　lovers　in　thy　precincts　their　hearts'　desire　fulfil！
　　In　glory　and　in　pleasance　still　may　thy　dwellers　live；　What　while　a　wandering　pla　shines　out　on　heaven's　hill！　
Then　he　looked　at　the　third；　on　which　he　found　these　verses　written　in　ultramarine：

　　Still　mayst　thou　last　in　glory　and　prosper；　house　of　mine；　As　long　as　night　shall　darken；　as　long　as　lights　shall　shine！
　　All　at　thy　gates　who　enter　good　luck　embrace　and　good　From　thee　betide　each　er　in　one　unbroken　line！　
And　on　the　fourth　was　painted　in　yellow　characters　the　following　verse：

　　This　garden　and　this　lake；　a　pleasant　sittingplace；　These；　by　the　clement　Lord；　are　all　I　ask　of　grace。　
Moreover；　in　that　garden　were　birds　of　all　kinds；　turtle　and　cushat　and　culver　and　nightingale；　each　carolling　his　several　song；　and　amongst　them　the　lady；　swaying　gracefully　to　and　fro　and　ravishing　all　who　saw　her　with　her　beauty　and　grace　and　symmetry。　'O　man；'　said　she　to　Mesrour；　'what　brings　thee　into　a　house　other　than　thy　house　and　wherefore　est　thou　in　unto　women　other　than　thy　women；　without　leave　of　their　owner？'　'O　my　lady；'　answered　he；　'I　saw　this　garden；　and　the　goodliness　of　its　verdure　pleased　me　and　the　fragrance　of　its　flowers　and　the　singing　of　its　birds；　so　I　entered；　thinking　to　gaze　on　it　awhile　and　go　my　way。'　'With　all　my　heart；'　said　she。　Mesrour　was　amazed　at　the　sweetness　of　her　speech　and　the　amorous　languor　of　her　glances　and　the　elegance　of　her　shape；　and　transported　by　her　beauty　and　grace　and　the　pleasantness　of　the　garden　and　the　birds。　So　he　recited　the　following　verses：

　　She　shone；　a　moon；　amongst　the　ways；　midmost　a　garden　fair；　Wherein　sweet　jessamine　and　rose　and　fragrant　basil　were；
　　And　myrtle　and　anemones　bloodred　and　eglantine　And　violets；　passing　about　the　cassiatree；　blew　there。
　　The　zephyr　steals　from　it　the　scents；　wherewith　it　laden　is；　Its　perfume　from　the　boughs　exhaled；　breathes　fragrance　everywhere。
　　Hail；　O　thou　garden；　that　all　flowers　and　sweets　doth　prehend；　That　perfect　art　in　every　grace　and　fashion　of　the　fair！
　　Under　the　shadow　of　thy　boughs　the　full　moon　（1）　shih　bright　And　with　the　sweetest　melodies　the　songbirds　fill　thine　air。
　　Thy　ringdove　and　thy　mockingbird；　yea；　and　thy　turtledove　And　nightingales　stir　up　my　soul　to　longing　and　despair；
　　And　yearning　harbours　in　my　heart：　dazed　at　thy　goodliness　Am　I；　and　as　one　stupefied　for　drunkenness；　I　fare。　
Then　she　said　to　him；　'Harkye；　sirrah！　Begone　about　thy　business；　for　we　are　none　of　the　women　who　are　neither　thine　nor　another's。'　（2）　And　he　answered；　'O　my　lady；　I　said　nothing　ill。'　Quoth　she；　'Thou　soughtest　to　divert　thyself　with　the　sight　＇of　the　garden＇　and　thou　hast　looked　on　it；　so　go　thy　ways。'　'O　my　lady；'　said　he；　'belike　＇thou　wilt　give　me＇　a　draught　of　water；　for　I　am　athirst。'　Quoth　she；　'How　canst　thou　drink　of　a　Jew's　water；　and　thou　a　Nazarene？'　But　he　replied；　'O　my　lady；　your　water　is　not　forbidden　to　us　nor　ours　to　you；　for　we　are　all　＇as＇　one　creature。'　So　she　said　to　her　slavegirl；　'Give　him　to　drink。'　And　she　did　so。　Then　she　called　for　the　table　of　food；　and　there　came　four　damsels；　highbosomed　maids；　bearing　four　trays　＇of　meats＇　and　four　flagons　full　of　old　wine；　as　it　were　the　tears　of　a　slave　of　love　for　clearness；　and　＇set　them　down　before　him　on＇　a　table　around　whose　marge　were　graven　the　following　verses：

　　They　set　a　table　down　before　the　boon　panions'　eyne；　For　eating；　borne　on　wroughten　feet　of　gold　and　silver　fine；
　　The　Garden　of　Eternity　（3）　it　seemed；　the　which　unites　All　that　the　soul　can　weary　for　of　costly　meat　and　wine。　
Quoth　she；　'Thou　soughtest　to　drink　of　our　drink；　so　up　and　at　our　meat　and　drink！'　He　could　hardly　credit　his　ears　and　set　down　forthright　at　the　table；　whereupon　she　bade　her　nurse　（4）　give　him　a　cup；　that　he　might　drink。　Now　her　slavegirls　were　called；　one　Huboub；　another　Khutoub　and　the　third　Sukoub；　and　she　who　gave　him　the　cup　was　Huboub。　Presently；　the　breeze　blew　＇on　the　lady＇　and　the　scarf　（5）　fell　from　her　head　and　discovered　a　fillet　of　glittering　gold；　set　with　pearls　and　jewels　and　jacinths；　and　on　her　breast　was　a　necklace　of　all　manner　gems　and　precious　stones；　to　which　hung　a　sparrow　of　red　gold；　with　feet　of　red　coral　and　bill　of　white　silver　and　＇body＇　full　of　aloes　and　ambergris　and　odoriferous　musk。　Then　he　looked　at　the　breast　of　her　shift　and　saw　thereon　the　following　verse　wroughten　in　red　gold：

　　The　fragrance　of　musk；　that　breathes　from　the　breasts　of　the　fair；　The　zephyr　borrows；　to　sweeten　the　morning　air。　
Mesrour　marvelled　at　this　with　an　exceeding　wonder　and　was　confounded　at　her　charms　and　amazement　got　hold　upon　him。　Then　said　she　to　him；　'Begone　from　us　and　go　about　thy　business；　lest　the　neighbours　hear　of　and　even　us　with　the　lewd。'　'By　Allah；　O　my　lady；'　replied　he；　'suffer　me　to　enjoy　the　sight　of　thy　beauty　and　grace。'　With　this　she　was　wroth　with　him　and　leaving　him；　walked　in　the　garden；　followed　by　her　maids　＇Khutoub　and　Sukoub＇；　whilst　Huboub　abode　by　the　curtain　with　Mesrour；　who　entered　into　discourse　with　her　and　presently　said　to　her；　'O　Huboub；　hath　thy　mistress　a　husband　or　not？'　'She　hath　a　husband；'　answered　the　damsel；　'but　he　is　presently　abroad　on　a　journey　with　merchandise　of　his。'

When　he　heard　that　her　husband　was　abroad　on　a　journey；　his　heart　lusted　after　her　and　he　said；　'O　Huboub；　extolled　be　the　perfection　of　Him　who　created　this　damsel　and　fashioned　her！　How　sweet　is　her　beauty　and　her　grace　and　her　shape　and　symmetry！　Verily；　my　heart　is　in　sore　travail　for　her。　O　Huboub；　＇look＇　how　I　may　e　to　enjoy　her；　and　thou　shalt　have　of　me　what　thou　wilt　of　money　and　what　not　else。'　'O　Nazarene；'　answered　Huboub；　'if　she　heard　thee　speak　thus；　she　would　kill　thee；　or　else　she　would　kill　herself；　for　she　is　the　daughter　of　a　champion　（6）　of　the　Jews　nor　is　there　her　like　amongst　them。　Moreover；　she　hath　no　need　of　money　and　keepeth　herself　still　cloistered；　discovering　not　her　case　to　any。'　Quoth　Mesrour；　'O　Huboub；　an　thou　wilt　but　bring　me　to　enjoy　her；　I　will　be　thy　slave　and　thy　servant　and　will　serve　thee　all　my　life　and　give　thee　whatsoever　thou　seekest　of　me。'

But　she　said；　'O　Mesrour；　this　woman　hath　no　desire　for　money　nor　yet　for　men；　for　my　lady　Zein　el　Mewasif　is　straitly　cloistered；　going　not　forth　of　the　door　of　her　house；　lest　the　folk　see　her；　and　but　that　she　forbore　thee　by　reason　of　thy　strangerhood；　she　had　not　suffered　thee　to　pass　her　threshold；　no；　not　though　thou　wert　her　brother。'　'O　Huboub；'　rejoined　he；　'be　thou　our　gobetween　and　thou　shalt　h